Microsoft Corp (MSFT)

In many ways, this has gone through a process where it grew up with a monopoly business. Every time you wanted to use a computer, you effectively had to pay this company. Then they branched into other markets where they don't really have that monopoly structure in pricing, and the margins have come down over time. This is a growth business and has a ton of cash. If you are buying as a longer-term dividend play, it's OK here. It's a little rich and he would like to see it correct a little lower. An interesting play.

(Market Call Minute.) Doesn't own this, but it’s on her Watch List. Likes the commercial Cloud business they are growing. It’s a high margin business going forward, and they have a good opportunity to take share in that space.

Buying back shares will be part of what to do with all that money. He does not think that repatriating cash will cause a CEO to pay his employees more. He does not think that repatriating capital will have the impact on the US economy that the government thinks it will.

Tech stocks are all down today. It was interesting to note that MA-N is also down today as they are also a tech company. We are seeing a rotation out of tech into financials, and resources. This part of the Trump tax cut. This is short term noise. These companies have tremendous franchises. This is an appropriate place to wade in. They are a tremendously run company.

The 2^nd biggest in the Cloud, and are also making a lot of money in selling software. Microsoft 365 Solution is 90% margin for them, and they are transitioning more people to the Cloud. Valuation is quite inexpensive.

(A Top Pick Dec 13/16. Up 36%.) A cheap stock. It has dynamite business relationships. They are the software company to enterprise businesses. One of the 3 leaders in Cloud-based computing which is growing very rapidly.

The Cloud theme they embarked on is accelerating. Azure grew 90% in the most recent quarter. It’s a $20 billion business today in a $200 billion market that is growing. They have the enterprise customers, and have shown they can get them. They invested up front for the infrastructure and the margins get better. Their margins went up by 8% in the quarter. Subscription software is growing very, very nicely. These businesses will grow whether or not the economy grows. It is inexpensive. Dividend yield of 2%. (Analysts’ price target is $92.)

He likes companies that produce a lot of free cash flow, because it generates a lot of shareholder wealth. This is the world’s largest software company, and they generate increasing streams of revenue and free cash flow. Trades at about a 6% free cash flow yield. Has recently started to accelerate their business as they’ve accelerated their web business. Dividend yield of 2%. (Analysts’ price target is $92.)

Has had a great run. One of the best companies in the world. It struggled after the 2000 setback. Every new business that started up in the last 25 years, runs on Microsoft. As these businesses grow, this company’s products are just going to naturally populate as they grow. They got into Cloud computing, and were able to roll their entire user base from the legacy software to software services, replacing the one-time payment to a monthly rental payment, which provides better cash flow and outlook for the company.

She missed the boat on this one. They were kind of lumped into the old technology type of group, but did a remarkable job of taking the installed base and getting into the Cloud side. Now Cloud accounts for about 26% of overall revenue, and now they are bundling those packages together. Have done a phenomenal job of that and have gone from a legacy technology provider, getting into the FAANG space. It's had a phenomenal run with EV to EBITDA going from 24X in 2.5 years. There are a lot of good things happening within the company. It's hard for her to get around the valuation at this time.

Reports on Thursday. Buy or wait? This is the one stock that has helped the market, in addition to FAANG, it’s just that no one knows how to spell FMAANG by adding M into the acronym. It has been a home run since February 2014 when management changed. It’s been trading at around 20X earnings every quarter for a long time. He would stay away for the time being and have a better entry point. The growth story for them has been their Cloud services division, where they are going up against Amazon Web services. When facing a competitor like that, who has no problem not earning money, that becomes a big dogfight. Wouldn’t be comfortable buying at these prices.

(A Top Pick Nov 3/16. Up 34%.) He likes its exposure to the Cloud, an incredible business. They aren’t making money on the Cloud at the moment. However, unlike Amazon (AMZN-Q), they are funding their Cloud ambitions with a business that is gushing cash. 80% margins in their software business. Feels the Cloud is going to be a $1 trillion plus business.

Seasonal it is strong from now until the middle of January. Technically, it is in an upward trend. Stick with it or buy some more.

One thing that really capitalized Amazon (AMZN-Q) in the last 2 years, is Amazon Web Services. This company is a close #2 in that business, and there are certain aspects of their historic legacy business that puts them in a powerful position to potentially pull even or even surpass them over time. Generates a ton of free cash flow. Dividend yield of 2.3%. (Analysts’ price target is $82.)

Had a great run. When he bought it, it was on a free cash flow yield basis of about 12%. Now it sits with a 5%-6% free cash flow yield. Their Cloud-based business has exploded upwards. Office Suite 65 has done incredibly well. The only issue is valuation. It used to trade at 10X earnings, but now trades at 25X. If you take out the cash, it is more like 15X. Thinks there is more upside, but he is cautious. He is going to look at this in the next couple of weeks as to what he is going to do with reallocating.